California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is a university in Long Beach, California, with a visitor information center on Beach Drive. You can reach campus by car or on Long Beach Transit, but parking requires a paid permit and some campus areas are not open to the public.
- Location: Long Beach, California
- Visitor Information Center: Beach Drive, just east of Bellflower Boulevard
- Parking: paid permits are required at all times
Campus location and visitor orientation
The CSULB Visitor Information Center is on Beach Drive, just east of Bellflower Boulevard. Use it as your starting point for campus visitor information, then follow campus directions to your intended destination.
Campus access is not the same as access to every building. Areas that are not designated as public or limited areas, including building interiors, are classified as non-public and are not open to the public. Academic buildings are generally secured by 11:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:30 p.m. on weekends, so plan your campus visit around those access limits.
How do you get to CSULB from Long Beach?
Long Beach Transit routes 121, 171, 172, 173, 174 and 175 serve CSULB. Check Long Beach Transit’s route information for your journey, since some routes may use a Saturday or Sunday schedule.
If you are driving from the 405 Freeway, CSULB’s directions say to exit at Bellflower Boulevard, continue to Beach Drive and turn left onto campus. The visitor center is on Beach Drive just east of Bellflower Boulevard, making it a clear place to orient yourself after arriving.
For other local connections, the guide to getting around downtown Long Beach from the motel area covers the downtown area.
Parking, transit, and campus access
CSULB requires paid parking at all times, and parking enforcement operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. If you arrive by car, park in a General Lot and buy a permit at the nearest pay station.
Parking permits are virtual: your vehicle’s license plate serves as the permit, and no physical permit is issued. Daily and short-term permits can be bought through the ParkMobile app or at campus pay stations. The pay stations are cashless and accept credit and debit cards. Check the official site before you go for current parking details.
A daily permit is valid in General lots and the three campus parking structures, subject to posted restrictions, and expires at 11:59 p.m. on the day of purchase.
Short-term spaces have green-painted curbs; a short-term permit is required there and is valid only in the lot where you bought it. Non-resident vehicles must leave campus by 11:59 p.m. Student resident permits are the only permit type that allows overnight parking without a separate approved arrangement.
If you are attending a campus event, parking may be purchased through ParkMobile or CSULB’s Events Module, which accepts purchases up to 30 days before an event. Holders of annual, academic-year or semester permits do not need an additional event parking permit, because those permits remain valid during campus events.
Adding a campus event to your visit
Carpenter Performing Arts Center is on the CSULB campus, so an event there can be part of a campus visit. Check the venue’s event details and parking arrangements before setting out; the campus event parking options include ParkMobile and CSULB’s Events Module. CSULB is about an 11-minute drive from Royal Inn Motel Long Beach.
For venue-specific information, including tickets, parking and directions, see the guide to how to visit Carpenter Performing Arts Center.
FAQs
Where is the CSULB Visitor Information Center?
It is on Beach Drive, just east of Bellflower Boulevard.
Which Long Beach Transit routes serve CSULB?
Routes 121, 171, 172, 173, 174 and 175 serve the university. Some routes may follow a Saturday or Sunday schedule.
Does CSULB require a parking permit?
Yes. Paid parking is required at all times. Visitors arriving by car are directed to park in a General Lot and buy a permit at the nearest pay station.
Are all campus buildings open to visitors?
No. Areas not designated as public or limited areas are non-public. Academic buildings are generally secured by 11:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:30 p.m. on weekends.